Printing-type



(No Model.)

T. BIGBLOW.

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FIG.

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WITNESSES INVENTUR N4 PEIERS, Fholo-Lhh qraplmr, Washington. a. c.

Uiviien STATES TIMOTHY BIGELOV, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

PRINTING-"TYPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 851,355, dated ()ctober26, 1886.

Serial No. l-l,2il6. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Trnornv Brcn'now, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printing-Type;and I do hereby declare that the following specificatiomtaken inconnection with the drawings annexed to and forming part of thesame, furnishes a full and clear description of the invention sufticient toenable those skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and operatethe same.

My invention relates to printing-types used in type-writers,type-writing machines, and printing-machines.

It has for its object the construction of printing-type out ofporous orminutelytubular material of natural or artificial origin, through thetubes or pores of which type, opening up pn their printing surface orchannel, ink or an equivalent printing-fluid may be conveyed to saidprinting face or channel, and thence be transferred directly to paper,or whatever it is desired to print upon,withont the intervention oremployment of inking ribbons, tapes, or rollers; and also theprovisionof means where by such type may be automatically supplied with ink orprinting-fluid from a well, fount, or a substance charged with saidfluid or ink. These objects I attain by the device and constructionshown in the accompanying drawings, in WhlCh Figure lisaside view of myimproved type body in longitudinal shape. 2, 3, and at are end views ofthe same, respectively showing the type in relief upon, recessed in, anddelineated on the type body. Fig. 5 is a top view of my improvedtype-body in segmental shape, showing several printingfaces on the same.Fig. 6 is an end view of the face of the type-body shown in Figs.5,7,and 8. Fig. '7 is a view of the under side of the typebody shown in6. Fig. 8 is a top view of my improved type-body in segmental shape,showing the printing-faces, thefeeding pores or tubes, and the pointwhere ink is supplied. Fig. 9 is a view of a circular form of myimproved typebody. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the type-body shown inFig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, A, is the type body. 13 is the printing faceor channel of the type. C is the absorbent extension of the typebody,through whiclrthe ink or printingflnid is supplied to the type-body; andD is the well, fount, or source of supply of the ink or fluid.

Similan letters refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

In the construction of my improved type I employ any suitable natural orarti ticial porous material. Among such as are adapted for use in thatdirection are porous clay, vulcanite made porous by molding minute wiresin its substance, and subsequently withdrawing them or destroying themby chemical processes, minute glass rods or tubes bniltup into a body, abody of metal built up of fine wires, partially carbonized or bakedporous woods, and substances having incorporated in the body thereofhair or other fiber which are capable ofbeing eliminated therefrom byheat or chemical processes.

The porous body of my improved type may be constructed with but a singleletter, figure, or character cast, molded, carved, or delineated uponit, or it may be constructed of such a form that several letters,figures, or characters may be cast, molded, carved, or delineated uponit. In either form, however, the pores or tubes opening upon the face orchannel of the type musthave communication with a source of ink or fluidsupply, either a well, fount, or a substance charged with ink or fluidor with a cavity or receptacle containing said ink or fluid situated inthe type-body.

The ink or printing-fluid must be brought in contact with an absorbentportion of the type-body. This may be done by permitting an absorbentportion of the type-body to dip into a well or fount containing the inkor printing-fluid, as indicated by the letter O in Figs. 1, 2, fl, 4, 6,and 7. Such absorbent portion may be brought in contact with a substancecharged with ink or printing-fluid, as also indicated by the letter O inFigs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7; or the absorbent portion may be at the rearend of the type-body, and said end may be connected or brought incontact with a well or fount containing ink or printingfluid or asubstance charged with ink or fluid.

My invention also embraces the varnishing,

glazing, or coating of the exterior of the typebody, except the printingface orchannel of the type and the point of absorption of the inkorprinting-fluid, with a retentive mate rial which is capable ofresisting the action of the particular fluid or ink employed inprinting. Among the materials adapted for such purpose are any of themany compounds used for glazing earthenware-copal, asphalt, and masticvarnishes, or a solution of rubber in benzine or chloroform. The purposeof the use of this coating material is to fill up the outer pores ortubes of the type and body, and thus prevent evaporation or waste of theink or fluid by leakage, and to keep out dirt. It also limits the exitof the ink or printing-fluid to the printing face or channel of thetype, and allows the ink or printing-fluid to enter the Eype-body onlyat the latters absorbent porion.

My improved type may be either cast, molded, or carved in relief upon orrecessed below or delineated upon the printing end of the type-body,provided the printing face or ehan-' nel of the type is supplied withink orv printing-fluid through the pores or tubes of the type-.bodyopening thereon. \Vhether the type and body shall be cast, molded, orcarved depends upon which of the various porous materials I havespecified is employed. In the case of porous earth that may be cast ormolded and then baked, care being taken that the material is free fromgrit and is rendered sufficiently plastic to fill the mold or cast, andthat it'is thoroughly baked, this porous earth may be baked in blocks orsmall bricks, and the type faces or channels may be carved thereon. Ifvulcanite, rendered porous as I have specified, is used, it ispreferable to carve the letters, figures, or characters upon it. If abody of glass rods or tubes is used, it may be cast or molded .into thedesired form, and the same course may be taken with a body of fine metalwires. The partially carbonized or baked porous woods may be carved tothe de sired form.

The advantages which are secured by the use of my porous type arelightness, durability, cheapncss of material, and ease of manufacin thecase'of type-Writers and type-writing machines, the use of my poroustype does away with inking ribbons or tapes, which are ums, and oftensmireh and tarnish the paper used in printing with said machines.

The use of'my type in printing-machines dispenses with inking-rollers, asaving of both time, expense, and labor.

I am aware that printingtypes have been constructed with an internalreceptacle adapted to be filled with ink and having an openingcorresponding to the letter, character, or figure through which said inkis fed and supplied tothe printing-face of the type; but in said devicethe ink enters the printing-surface of the type in such volume as toproduce a blur when the type-face is impressed upon paper or othermaterial. By my invention the ink orprintingfiuid is drawn from thesource of supply through the internal pores or tubes of the type-body,and reaches the printing face or channel of the type through the poresor tubes opening thereon. Its flow is steady and uniform, and insures aclear, distinct, and legible impression upon the paper or other materialto which said ink or fluid is transferred.

I therefore (1011501; claim a fountaintype constructed with an openingin the face corresponding to the letter, character, or figure to beproduced, and charged with selfsupplying ink; but

WVhat I do'elaini, and desire to secure by 85-4 Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, a printingtype constructed of porousmaterial and varnished or glazed on its exterior, excepting itsabsorbent surface and its printing face or channel, and adapted toautomatically feed its printing face or channel with ink or an equiv--not always reliable as ink-supplying medi

